Flexible housing for an airbag module

Abstract

A housing for an airbag module that contains an inflatable airbag cushion in a compacted configuration before being inflated by inflation gas supplied by an inflator device. The housing includes a collar formed of a rigid material for attaching the housing to a vehicle and a chute assembly formed of a flexible material and secured to the collar.

1. A housing for an airbag module that contains an inflatable cushion in a compacted configuration, the inflatable cushion inflated by inflation gas supplied by an inflator device, the housing comprising:
 a collar formed of a rigid material for attaching the housing to a vehicle, wherein the collar comprises a vehicle attachment flange for attaching the collar to the vehicle; and 
 a chute assembly formed of a flexible material and secured to the collar, the chute assembly including an attachment portion that is folded around a portion of the collar and attached back to the chute assembly. 
 
   
   
     2. The housing of  claim 1  wherein the flexible material comprises a fabric. 
   
   
     3. The housing of  claim 2  wherein the flexible material comprises a nylon fabric or a polyester fabric. 
   
   
     4. The housing of  claim 1  wherein the rigid material comprises metal. 
   
   
     5. The housing of  claim 1  wherein the rigid material comprises plastic. 
   
   
     6. The housing of  claim 1  wherein the collar is formed from one rigid material piece. 
   
   
     7. The housing of  claim 1  wherein the collar is formed from more than one rigid material piece. 
   
   
     8. The housing of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle attachment flange comprises a plurality of attachment hooks. 
   
   
     9. The housing of  claim 1  wherein the chute assembly comprises an inflator opening adapted to receive an inflation gas diffuser connected to the inflator device. 
   
   
     10. The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion extends from a side wall of the chute assembly, is folded around the portion of the collar, and includes an attachment portion end that is attached to the chute assembly. 
   
   
     11. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact, the airbag module comprising:
 a housing including a collar formed of a rigid material for attaching the housing to the vehicle and a chute assembly formed of a flexible material and secured to the collar, the chute assembly including a bottom side wall and an inflator opening in the bottom side wall; 
 an inflatable cushion in a compacted configuration contained in the housing; 
 an inflator device in inflation combination with the inflatable cushion, wherein upon receipt of an activation signal, the inflator device supplies inflation gas to inflate the inflatable cushion, the inflator device disposed adjacent to an outer side of the housing and including a fist portion extending through the inflator opening in the bottom side wall of the housing and a second portion that is disposed outside of the housing and connected to the vehicle; and 
 a retainer deflector disposed in the housing and connected to the inflator device, wherein a portion of the bottom side wall is disposed between the retainer deflector and the inflator device to secure the chute assembly to the inflator device. 
 
   
   
     12. The airbag module of  claim 11  wherein the portion of the inflator device disposed through the inflator opening in the chute assembly comprises an inflation gas diffuser. 
   
   
     13. The airbag module of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of the inflatable cushion is disposed between the retainer deflector and the chute assembly. 
   
   
     14. The airbag module of  claim 11 , further comprising a mounting bracket connecting the second portion of the inflator device to the vehicle. 
   
   
     15. A housing for an airbag module that contains an inflatable cushion in a compacted configuration, the inflatable cushion inflated by inflation gas supplied by an inflator device, the housing comprising:
 a collar formed of a rigid material for attaching the housing to a vehicle, the collar including a vehicle attachment flange for attaching the collar to the vehicle and a tab opening disposed through a portion of the collar adjacent the vehicle attachment flange; and 
 a fabric piece folded and stitched to form a chute assembly, the chute assembly including an attachment portion that extends through the tab opening and is folded back and attached to the chute assembly to secure at least a portion of the chute assembly to the collar to form a housing chamber for containing the inflatable cushion. 
 
   
   
     16. The airbag module of  claim 15  additionally comprising a retainer deflector disposed in the housing and connected to the inflator device, wherein a portion of the fabric piece is disposed between the retainer deflector and the inflator device to secure the chute assembly to the inflator device. 
   
   
     17. The housing of  claim 15  wherein the fabric piece comprises a nylon fabric or a polyester fabric. 
   
   
     18. The housing of  claim 15  wherein the rigid material comprises metal. 
   
   
     19. The housing of  claim 15  wherein the rigid material comprises plastic. 
   
   
     20. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact, the airbag module comprising:
 the housing of  claim 15 ; 
 an inflatable cushion in a compacted configuration contained in the housing; and 
 an inflator device in inflation combination with the inflatable cushion, wherein upon receipt of an activation signal, the inflator device supplies inflation gas to inflate the inflatable cushion.